“Milly, what do you want?” Dad asks me.
“I just want to be happy,” I say. “I want to heal and help others heal. If my story helps others speak up, I’d be happy.”
“Alania has a thing for publicly humiliating people who hurt others,” Grayson says. “How do you feel about speaking to The Society?”
“Uh,” I laugh. “Will it help others?”
“This is likely a group that is operating in secret within The Society. Seeing you open up might encourage others to do the same,” he tells me.
“Then I want to,” I say. “They made me believe I was crazy and ignored the existence of my sister. I wasn’t just making things up; I missed my sister and wanted to keep her alive. Mom hurt me more than anyone, but played innocent.”
“Okay. Tomorrow, we can go up to the school and talk to them. I think they’re in class tomorrow, so you’ll get a chance to see what the submissive school does,” he tells me.
“Can we go to The Void?” I ask.
“I don’t know. With your wrist, it would mean you can’t be restrained,” he says.
“Impact?” Henry asks.
“Mhmm. She has a pretty intense history of self-harm. She has stitches in her hand from cutting it open while cooking, plus the break,” Grayson says.
“I’d think right now it would be most helpful considering she’s most at risk of spiraling right now compared to after she heals,” Susan says.
“If she’s asking, I’m thinking it’s for a reason,” Dad says, and then looks at me.
“I wouldn’t say I’m thinking about cutting, but… I feel like I need to be in pain. I’m used to being in pain, but I’m not. It’s weird.”
“It’s not weird,” Adam says. “When you get used to things, you expect it.”
“Okay. Let’s get through talking to Alania. Maybe I could get Adrian to help. He’s well-versed in Alania’s trauma and will be far less biased.”
“If you trust him,” I say.
“I trust all of them,” he says. “Alania has been a patient of mine since they took over, and I’ve gotten to know her partners also. They are good people and genuinely care about The Society.”
“Can I still work with you at the school?”
“Absolutely,” he says. “I have a few appointments in the morning, and then we can go talk to them.”
“What happens with the times I used to come in?” I ask.
“We will still use that time the same, but Adam will be with us. We can use that time to work on both healing and bonding. We can also help teach you skills that promote independence,” Grayson says.
“I think we need to find a way to resolve the issue with Hope,” Adam says. “It’s the only thing you two have argued about.”
“What do you suggest?” Grayson asks.
“I think you need to sit down with Hope and Milly,” Adam says.
“That’s a horrible idea, Adam,” Grayson says.
“Why?” I ask.
“She has this mindset where she thinks she is the only one who can give me what I want. I don’t know how exactly she got that idea, but she is convinced that I will go back to her,” he says bluntly.
“She is beautiful,” I say.
“She’s also shallow and never shuts the fuck up,” Grayson says bluntly. “Beauty is more than just what’s on the surface.”
